Club’s trophy haul

Students of the Knox Avenue based Harrogate Karate Centre returned recently from one of England’s major karate events with an incredible fourteen gold, silver and bronze medals.

At the Cheshire-held Shukokai Karate Alliance’s National Open Kata (traditional form) championships, the squad battled their way to an impressive nine finals, all of which carried valuable ranking points towards representing England at this year’s World Union of Karate Federation European and World championships.

First honours of the day went to the centre’s childrens junior squad, who, with two of their members having only recently started karate training, completely whitewashed the opposition; blue belt Thomas Bebbington took gold, Sam Street silver and Oliver James and Yuan Xu bronze.

In the senior brown and black belt events, top three podium medals went to Natalie Hofman with two silver and one bronze; Oksana Greenshaw silver;

“Against very stiff opposition from some of the country’s finest karate-ka our senior grades showed tremendous determination in earning themselves valuable England ranking points. However, I must heap praise on the efforts of our young junior grades.

“With an average age of just seven years, I can see nothing but incredible future success for this young squad.”

For details of classes at the Karate Centre tel Ken Gee sensei on 01423-858474 or 07836 724977.